Exercise machine for training watersports athletes

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine adapted for training watersports athletes has a pair of spaced-apart vertical columns each with hollow tubular body with a weighted plunger attached to a cable for vertical reciprocation while a user performs power and return stroke movements on an instrument attached to the other end of the cable. The plunger is hydraulically coupled to an air channel fed by an air-through valve sized to control air movement into the air channel by the rising plunger during a power stroke to approximate water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water. The air channel has a release opening for releasing air balanced against the weight of the falling plunger to approximate lifting an oar, paddle, or arm out of the water on a return stroke. The exercise machine can be used to practice a wide range of watersports training exercises for swimming, paddleboarding, canoe paddling, rowing, etc.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention disclosure concerns an exercise machine for training watersports athletes, and particularly one that combines exercise training for a number of watersports movements such as surf paddling, swimming, rowing, paddleboarding, and canoe paddling together in a single compact system.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional exercise machines are commonly designed to have the user pull or lift against a selectable weight resistance in one or only a few types of athletic movements of the arms, shoulders, abdomen or legs. As a result, exercise gyms typically have a large number of exercise machines installed on the gym floor occupying a lot of floor space, thereby incurring high equipment and space rental costs. Additionally, few machines are designed for training watersports athletes, and none are known to accurately simulate the stroke resistance that watersports athletes will encounter in outdoor conditions in water. A conventional type of rowing machine has a user on a sliding seat pull on a rowing bar attached by cable to a spinning flywheel.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

It would therefore be desirable to provide an exercise machine that combines exercise training for a number of training movements for watersports athletes, such as for surf paddling, swimming, rowing, paddleboarding, and canoe paddling, together in a single compact system. It would be particularly desirable to provide an exercise machine which can accurately simulate the movements or weight resistance that watersports athletes will encounter in outdoor conditions in water.

Solution to Problem

In accordance with the present invention, an exercise machine adapted for training watersports athletes comprises:

-   -   a pair of spaced-apart vertical columns each having a hollow         tubular body and a plunger disposed in the tubular body which is         moved by an attached cable in vertical reciprocation between a         power movement and a recovery movement;     -   a pair of water-resistance simulating mechanisms each         hydraulically coupled to the plunger of a respective one of the         vertical columns for generating a weight resistance         approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the         water during the power movement of the plunger's vertical         reciprocation, and for releasing the weight resistance         approximating lifting the oar, paddle, or arm out of the water         during the recovery movement of the plunger's vertical         reciprocation;     -   a bench positioned along a perpendicular axis normal to the pair         of spaced-apart vertical columns on which a user of the exercise         machine can sit, stand, straddle or lie to perform watersports         training exercises on the exercise machine; and     -   a pair of exercise cables entrained on pulleys along respective         sides of the vertical columns, each having a distal end attached         to the plunger of a respective one of the vertical columns and a         proximal end coupled to an instrument that the user uses to         perform watersports training exercises while seated, standing,         straddling or lying on said bench.

In a preferred embodiment of the exercise machine of the present invention, the water-resistance simulating mechanism is provided with an air channel that is fed by an air-through valve at one end and a channel output end which is coupled to an air-coupling end of the vertical column. The plunger has a given weight and is designed to be movable in reciprocation in the tubular body of the vertical column and is fitted and sealed therein in an airtight manner. When the plunger is pulled by the attached cable upward in the tubular body, the suction vacuum created by the upwardly moving plunger sucks air into the vertical column through the air-coupling end which is fed through the air-through valve into the air channel of the water-resistance simulating mechanism.

The air-through valve is constructed and dimensioned to allow air to be sucked through under a pulling force that approximates the water resistance to a power stroke of an oar, paddle or arm in the water. When the plunger is released during the recovery movement to move back downward under gravity, it pushes air out from the vertical column into the air channel and out through an upper release opening which is controlled by a displaceable hollow ball that is lifted upward from the release opening by the force of the pushed air. The movement of the weight of the plunger under gravity approximately balances the force required to push the air from the air channel through the release opening such that the release movement approximates the feeling when an oar, paddle or arm is lifted from the water on a return stroke.

The exercise machine can be used in exercise training for a number of training movements for watersports athletes. For surf paddling or swimming, the user can lie prone on the bench facing the vertical columns and practice swimming stroke movements using hand grips coupled to the proximal ends of the exercise cables. For rowing, the user can sit straddling the bench facing the vertical columns and use a double-handed oar to practice oaring stroke movements. For paddleboarding, the user can stand straddling the bench and use a long paddle instrument to practice paddleboard stroke movements. For canoe paddling, the user can sit straddling the bench and practice paddle stroke movements using a short paddle instrument on one side (canoe paddling) or a double-sided paddle instrument (kayak paddling). Other exercise training movements may also be devised for use on the exercise machine.

The suction-and-release air channel coupled to the reciprocation movement of the air-sealed plunger in each of the vertical columns of the exercise machine provides the simulated water-resistance for all watersports training movements of watersports athletes on a single, compact exercise machine. The bench may also be folded on stood on end to collapse the machine for storage or when not in use. Therefore, the compact machine is suitable for installation even in a home or office.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The exercise machine of the present invention enables watersports athletes to practice a number of training exercises for a wide range of watersports, including surf paddling, swimming, rowing, paddleboarding, and canoe paddling, using a single compact machine. The water-resistance simulating mechanisms are designed to generate a weight resistance approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water during a power stroke and lifting the oar, paddle, or arm out of the water during a recovery stroke. Watersports athletes of various types can practice training exercises on one machine installed on the gym floor, thereby greatly saving on equipment and space rental costs. The exercise machine is compact enough to be used in a home or office.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the following detailed description with reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation view of an exercise machine for training watersports athletes in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the exercise machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the exercise machine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the exercise machine.

FIG. 5 is a schematic left side view of the exercise machine, the right side view being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the exercise machine.

FIGS. 7A-7D show front views of an inclined swivel action pulley in left, right, and center positions and a side view thereof used in the exercise machine.

FIGS. 8A-8B show top views of a mount for the swivel action pulley which is rotatable in the horizontal plane of the exercise machine.

FIGS. 9A-9B show the reciprocating movement of the plunger in a vertical column coupled to a suction-and-release air channel when it is pulled to a vertically upward position on a power stroke and released to a vertically downward position in a release stroke.

FIGS. 10A-10E show, respectively, a pair of short paddle instruments, a pair of long paddle instruments, a double-sided oar instrument, a pair of hand grips, and a two-handed oar instrument for use with the exercise machine in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating use of the exercise machine with a long paddle instrument for paddleboard training.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating use of the exercise machine with a double-sided paddle instrument for kayak paddle training.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating use of the exercise machine with a two-handed oar instrument for rowing training.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating use of the exercise machine with a short paddle instrument for canoe paddling training.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating use of the exercise machine with the user lying on the bench prone and using a pair of hand grips for surf paddling or swimming training.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating use of the exercise machine with a pair of hand grips for back and arm training.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description of the invention, certain preferred embodiments are illustrated providing certain specific details of their implementation. However, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that many other variations and modifications may be made given the disclosed principles of the invention.

Referring to the several views in FIGS. 1-6, a preferred embodiment of an exercise machine 10 for training watersports athletes in accordance with the present invention is illustrated having a pair of spaced-apart vertical columns 12, 14, each having a hollow tubular body and a plunger (described below) disposed in the tubular body which is moved by respectively attached cables 13, 15 in vertical reciprocation between a power movement and a recovery movement as a user practices watersports strokes on the exercise machine. A pair of water-resistance simulating mechanisms 11, 16 are respectively coupled hydraulically to the plunger of a respective one of the vertical columns for generating a weight resistance approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water during the power movement of the plunger's vertical reciprocation, and for releasing the weight resistance approximating lifting the oar, paddle, or arm out of the water during the recovery movement of the plunger's vertical reciprocation.

A bench 17, with a seat 17 a and hinged end stand 17 b, is positioned along a perpendicular axis PP normal to the pair of spaced-apart vertical columns, on which a user of the exercise machine can sit, stand, straddle or lie to perform watersports training exercises on the exercise machine. The pair of exercise cables 13, 15 are entrained on upper pulleys 18 a, 18 b and lower pulleys 19 a, 19 b on respective sides of the vertical columns, each having a distal end 13 a, 15 a attached to the plunger in a respective one of the vertical columns and a proximal end 13 b, 15 b to be coupled to an instrument that the user uses to perform watersports training exercises while seated, standing, straddling or lying on the bench.

For providing a rigid structure, the exercise machine can have a lower base 20 to which the bottoms of the vertical columns are affixed and which has an upright swivel stand 20 a to which one side of the bench is hinged. The hinged side allows the bench to be folded upright for storage or when not in use. Front pedestals 21 a, 21 b are coupled to the lower base 20 to provide rigidity at the front of the machine. The base has upright side arms 22 a, 22 b extending to a transverse lower bracket 23, which in turn has upright posts 24 a, 24 b extending to a transverse intermediate bracket 25 and a transverse upper bracket 26. The vertical columns are attached to the upright posts 24 a, 24 b by metal band straps. The upper pulleys 18 a, 18 b are mounted on opposite ends of the upper bracket 26, and the lower pulleys 19 a, 19 b are mounted on opposite ends of the upper bracket 26. An optional seat back 27 may be provided for use of the bench 17 with the seated user's back toward the machine.

FIGS. 7A-7D show front views of an inclined swivel action pulley in left, right, and center positions and a side view thereof, respectively, as used in the exercise machine. FIGS. 8A-8B show top views of a mount for the swivel action pulley rotatable in the horizontal plane of the exercise machine. The pulley mount 30 is attached to the end of the transverse lower bracket 23 (shown in dashed lines, see FIG. 1). The mount 30 has a brace for holding an inclined bracket 31 at an inclined angle to the horizontal plane. A bracket 32 for the swivel action pulley 19 (see 19 a and 19 b in FIG. 1) is rotatably mounted to the inclined bracket 31 by a center swivel post 31 a. The swivel action pulley can thus rotate through a range from left to center to right positions while at an inclined angle to the pulley mount 30, which itself can rotate through a range of angles in the horizontal plane. The combination of horizontal plane of movement and inclined angle rotation provides the pulley with complete three-dimensional freedom of movement so that a pull on its entrained cable (13 or 15) can come from any polar direction. This complete three-dimensional freedom of movement allows the exercise machine to be used for training a wide variety of watersports stroke movements.

FIGS. 9A-9B show the plunger 40 attached to the distal end of the cable 13 a, 15 a for reciprocating movement in the vertical column (12, 14 in FIG. 1). The suction-and-release air channel 41 is fed by an air-through valve 42 formed at its upper end, and has a channel output 43 at its lower end 43 that is coupled to an air-coupling end 44 of the vertical column. The plunger 40 has a given weight and is fitted and sealed by seals 40 a for reciprocating movement in the vertical column in an airtight manner. When the plunger 40 is pulled by the attached cable (13,15 in FIG. 1) upward in the tubular body of the vertical column, the suction vacuum created by the upwardly moving plunger 40 sucks air into the vertical column through the air-coupling end 44 which is fed by the air channel through the air-through valve 42.

The air-through valve 42 is constructed and dimensioned to allow air to be sucked through at a controlled rate determined by the dimensions of the valve opening. The precise valve opening can be set by the position of the valve cover 42 a threaded to the outer wall of the air channel so that it can be advanced to close or retracted to open the size of the valve opening. When the valve cover is set in a desired position, then a pulling force by the user on the cable will pull the plunger 40 upward, causing air to be sucked through the valve opening by the hydraulic coupling of the air channel. A high-speed pulling movement will require more force to suck the requisite amount of air into the vertical vacuum space generated by the plunger's upward movement. However, due to the compressibility of air, a high-speed pulling stroke will require a somewhat greater pulling force by the user but much less than an arithmetic multiple of the pulling speed. This characteristic of the air-through valve feed to the suction vacuum approximates the water resistance to a power stroke of an oar, paddle or arm in the water, and therefore gives training strokes executed on the exercise machine a feel similar to swimming, paddling, or rowing through water.

When the plunger 40 is released during the recovery movement to move back downward under gravity, it pushes air out from the vertical column into the air channel 42 and out through not only the air-through valve but also an upper release opening 42 b which is covered by a displaceable hollow (plastic) ball 45 that is lifted upward from the release opening 42 b by the force of the pushed air. The movement of the weight of the plunger under gravity approximately balances the force required to push the air from the air channel through the release opening 42 b. As a result, the feel to the user of the release movement approximates the feeling when an oar, paddle or arm is lifted from the water on a return stroke.

As a specific example of construction, the vertical column structure may be comprised of a 3 inch pulley attached to a pulley casing. A 3½ inch end cap with a rectangular opening is attached in the center at the top to stabilize the cable feed into the pulley casing. A plastic sheet membrane, for example, one made from chlorinated polyethylene, is used to line the wall of the pulley casing. The plunger can be a cylindrically shaped weight or a carrier for heavy washers or weights with annular bearings which act as air-tight seals with the walls of the tubular casing as the plunger moves in reciprocation. The air channel has the release opening at its top end provided with a hard plastic ball that is hollow inside so that it has a light weight. A metal or plastic cage is provided around the top end of the release opening to capture the ball when it is lifted by air pressure on the release stroke so that it can float and fall freely. On the power stroke the suction force in the air channel holds the ball as a tight closure of the release opening, so that air is drawn in only through the air-through valve.

The air valve cover is adjusted to size the air valve opening so that the pulling force action is set to the force level the user desires to train with. By turning the threaded housing of the air valve cover to retract it downward, the air valve opening is increased, while turning it in the opposite direction decreases it.

FIGS. 10A-10E show, respectively, (a) a pair of short paddle instruments, (b) a pair of long paddle instruments, (c) a double-sided oar instrument, (d) a pair of hand grips, and (e) a two-handed oar instrument for use with the exercise machine described above with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the exercise machine with the long paddle instrument for paddleboard training. The end of the instrument is attached to the proximal end of the cable (see 13 b, 15 b in FIG. 1). The standing user uses the long paddle instrument to perform power and return stroke movements on one side for paddleboard training. The user may optionally stand on the seat of the bench to practice balancing on a paddleboard in outdoor conditions in the water.

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of the exercise machine with a double-sided paddle instrument for kayak paddle training. For kayak paddling training, the seated user performs a power stroke on one side while turning the other side in a return movement, and vice versa

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the exercise machine with a two-handed oar instrument for rowing training. The seated user pulls with both hands on the oar instrument to execute a power stroke with pulling force on both sides at the same time.

FIG. 14 illustrates the use of the exercise machine with a short paddle instrument for canoe paddling training. The seated user uses the short paddle instrument to perform power and return stroke movements on one side for canoe paddling training.

FIG. 15 illustrates the use of the exercise machine for surf paddling or swimming training. The user lies prone on the bench, with the seat moved forward to the chest position, and pulls on a pair of hand grips on respective sides with alternate stroke movements (or at the same time for butterfly or high speed surf paddling stroke).

FIG. 16 illustrates use of the exercise machine for other types of training movements. In this example, the user is seated on the seat moved forward to the front of the bench with back against the seat back equipment for performing a two-armed pull from back to front. Many other types of training movements for use of the exercise machine may be devised.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The exercise machine of the present invention enables watersports athletes to practice a wide range of training exercises for watersports on a single compact machine. The water-resistance simulating mechanisms are uniquely designed to generate a weight resistance approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water. The exercise machine may also be folded for storage or when not in use. The use of a single machine to service a wide range of watersports athletes can greatly save on equipment and gym space rental costs. The exercise machine is also compact enough to be used in a home or office.

It is to be understood that many modifications and variations may be devised given the above description of the general principles of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and variations be considered as within the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the following claims. 

1. An exercise machine adapted for training watersports athletes comprising: a pair of spaced-apart vertical columns each having a hollow tubular body and a plunger disposed in the tubular body which is moved by an attached cable in vertical reciprocation between a power movement and a recovery movement; a pair of water-resistance simulating mechanisms each hydraulically coupled to the plunger of a respective one of the vertical columns for generating a weight resistance approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water during the power movement of the plunger's vertical reciprocation, and for releasing the weight resistance approximating lifting the oar, paddle, or arm out of the water during the recovery movement of the plunger's vertical reciprocation; a bench positioned along a perpendicular axis normal to the pair of spaced-apart vertical columns on which a user of the exercise machine can sit, stand, straddle or lie to perform watersports training exercises on the exercise machine; and a pair of exercise cables entrained on pulleys along respective sides of the vertical columns, each having a distal end attached to the plunger of a respective one of the vertical columns and a proximal end coupled to an instrument that the user uses to perform watersports training exercises while seated, standing, straddling or lying on said bench.
 2. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the water-resistance simulating mechanism is provided with an air channel that is fed by an air-through valve at an upper end and a channel output at a lower end which is coupled to an air-coupling end of the vertical column.
 3. An exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the plunger has a given weight and is designed to be movable in reciprocation in the tubular body of the vertical column and is fitted and sealed therein in an airtight manner.
 4. An exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein when the plunger is pulled by the attached cable upward in the tubular body, the suction vacuum created by the upwardly moving plunger sucks air into the vertical column through the air-coupling end which is fed through the air-through valve into the air channel of the water-resistance simulating mechanism.
 5. An exercise machine according to claim 4, wherein the air-through valve is constructed and dimensioned to allow air to be sucked through under a pulling force that approximates the water resistance to a power stroke of an oar, paddle or arm in the water.
 6. An exercise machine according to claim 4, wherein the air-through valve has an adjustable cover that is used to adjust the size of its air-through opening to set the level of pulling force against water resistance desired by the user.
 7. An exercise machine according to claim 4, wherein the air channel has an upper release opening which is controlled by a displaceable hollow ball that is lifted upward from the release opening by the force of the pushed air when the plunger is released during the recovery movement to move back downward under gravity, wherein movement of the weight of the plunger under gravity approximately balances the force required to push the air from the air channel through the release opening such that the release movement approximates the feeling when an oar, paddle or arm is lifted from the water on a return stroke.
 8. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a double-handed oar instrument which can be attached to the proximal ends of the exercise cables of both vertical columns to enable a user seated on the bench to practice two-handed oaring stroke movements.
 9. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of hand grips respectively coupled to the proximal ends of the exercise cables of both vertical columns to enable a user lying prone on the bench to practice swimming or surf paddling stroke movements.
 10. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a long paddle instrument coupled to the proximal end of the exercise cable of the vertical column on one side to enable a standing user to practice paddleboard stroke movements.
 11. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a short paddle instrument coupled to the proximal end of the exercise cable of the vertical column on one side to enable a seated user to practice canoe paddling movements.
 12. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a double-sided paddle instrument coupled to the proximal ends of the exercise cables of both vertical columns to enable a seated user to practice kayak paddling movements.
 13. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a movable seat on the bench to enable a user to adjust the position of the seat for practicing correspondingly positioned stroke movements.
 14. An exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising a seat back installable on the bench adjacent the vertical columns to enable a user to be seated with back against the vertical columns for practicing correspondingly positioned stroke movements.
 15. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein said bench is foldable to an upright position in parallel with said vertical columns to fold the exercise machine into a compact space for storage or when not in use.
 16. A device adapted for use in an exercise machine for training watersports athletes comprising: a vertical column having a hollow tubular body and a plunger disposed in the tubular body which is moved by an attached cable in vertical reciprocation between a power movement and a return movement; a water-resistance simulating mechanism hydraulically coupled to the plunger of the vertical column for generating a weight resistance approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water during the power movement of the plunger's vertical reciprocation, and for releasing the weight resistance approximating lifting the oar, paddle, or arm out of the water during the return movement of the plunger's vertical reciprocation; and an exercise cable having a distal end attached to the plunger of the vertical column and a proximal end coupled to an instrument that the user uses to perform watersports training exercises.
 17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the water-resistance simulating mechanism is provided with an air channel that is fed by an air-through valve at an upper end and a channel output at a lower end which is coupled to an air-coupling end of the vertical column.
 18. A device according to claim 17, wherein when the plunger is pulled by the attached cable upward in the tubular body, the suction vacuum created by the upwardly moving plunger sucks air into the vertical column through the air-coupling end which is fed through the air-through valve into the air channel of the water-resistance simulating mechanism.
 19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the air-through valve has an adjustable cover that is used to adjust the size of its air-through opening to set the level of simulated pulling force against water resistance desired by the user.
 20. A device according to claim 18, wherein the air channel has an upper release opening which is controlled by a displaceable hollow ball that is lifted upward from the release opening by the force of the pushed air when the plunger is released during the recovery movement to move back downward under gravity, wherein movement of the weight of the plunger under gravity approximately balances the force required to push the air from the air channel through the release opening such that the release movement approximates the feeling when an oar, paddle or arm is lifted from the water on a return stroke. 